Dr. Ralph Martire shares his views and solutions to Illinois’ financial crisis during a presentation sponsored by the Rochelle Area League of Women Voters. (Photo by Emily Bruns)

ROCHELLE—On Thursday night, executive director for the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability group, Dr. Ralph Martire provided a presentation on how Illinois became so financially off balance, why it keeps getting worse and how it can turn around.

Martire warned the solutions are not pleasant to hear, but the truth, in many instances, is often hard to swallow.

Martire works with the CTBA, a bi-partisan research and advocacy think tank that promotes fair, efficient and progressive tax, spending and economic policies, for many years and has been presenting Illinois’ financial facts 2000. Martire addressed a large crowd on Thursday night, with local politicians, school board representatives, Mayor Chet Oleson and area residents in attendance. The crowd listened interactively as Martire gave his energized presentation.

Board member of the League of Women’s Voters and one of the main coordinators of the presentation, Jim May, introduced Martire. Martire wasted no time getting to the point in his hour-long presentation.

“My biggest hope is to provide accurate information on what is causing the state’s fiscal problems.

“If voters don’t have good info they can’t make the right choice,” he explained before the presentation.

Martire opened the floor by stating that before the 2013 Illinois fiscal year began, it inherited $9 billion in debts from fiscal year 2012. To follow suit, fiscal year 2014 will inherit a $9 billion deficit. This set the mood for the presentation, as the rest of his facts were equally as surprising and sobering.